Sharks coach 'incredibly positive'

Durban - The Sharks head into Round 6 of the Super Rugby season with a welcoming bye after bagging victories in their opening three rounds.

This fine form was followed by a draw against the Bulls and a Round 5 loss to the Crusaders.

The Durbanites have not yet travelled outside South Africa and with an away fixture against the in-form Lions in Johannesburg next week, they will only start their overseas leg in Round 8.

It does not get any easier for Gary Gold's men with away fixtures against the Blues, defending champions the Highlanders and the Chiefs.

The director of rugby is however upbeat with their progress despite their loss to the seven-time champions and a rather average performance against the Bulls.

"I’m incredibly positive," Gold told the Sharks’ official website.

"I think the potential of this team is fantastic and we just need more time in the middle; we’re getting that at the moment."

Gold is happy with the temperament at which the players are handling the criticism from the supporters.

"I think even the most disappointed Sharks fan can’t criticise our character," he added.

"I want the players to know that they have a coaching staff that backs them, that rates them and enjoys working with them.

"It’s up to them to bring the character, and they’ve done that."

The former Springbok assistant coach admits that there is still plenty of room for improvement.

"I’m really proud of the players, proud of the progress we’ve made," he said.

"However, we’re not remotely the finished business, but if we carry on showing the character we’re showing in our performances against teams as lethal as the likes of the Crusaders, we’ll grow in confidence. 

"We have some things to fix, we know that, but I’m proud of the way the guys responded to what was a poor year in 2015.

"We decided we’d go back and rebuild and the guys have really put their hands up."